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Jaguars continue demolition of secondary

The Times-Union Dawan Landry intercepts a pass intended for the Colts' Donnie Avery on Nov. 8, and tight coverage by Aaron Ross (31) on Nate Washington forces an overthrow on Nov. 25. Landry and Ross were released Friday.

Bob.Mack@jacksonville.com --11/25/12 -- Tight coverage by Aaron Ross on Nate Washington near the endzone in the 1st. quarter. The Jacksonville Jaguars (1-9) played the Tennessee Titans (3-6) at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, FL on Sunday November 25, 2012. The Jags won 24-19 to go (2-9). (The Florida Times-Union, Bob Mack)

This is a 2012 photo of Daryl Smith of the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL football team. This image reflects the Jacksonville Jaguars active roster as of Wednesday June 13, 2012 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

The demolition of the Jaguars’ secondary continued Friday with the release of safety Dawan Landry and cornerback Aaron Ross.

They join cornerback Rashean Mathis, who will not be offered a new contract, as veterans who are not in the Jaguars’ current or future plans.

Landry had three years left on the $27.5 million contract he signed after the lockout in July 2011, and Ross had two years remaining on the $9.75 million deal he signed last offseason.

“For their sake, we wanted to let them go out and hit the market with the rest of the free agents,” general manager Dave Caldwell said. “We didn’t want to hold them hostage if we weren’t going to move forward without them.”

Caldwell also said none of the Jaguars’ six restricted free agents would be offered contract tenders (meaning they become unrestricted free agents), and no agreements had been struck with any of the team’s own free agents.

The release of Landry and Ross means the Jaguars created $6.17 million of cap space and are $32 million under the $123 million threshold. But Caldwell reiterated the moves were about performance and not money.

Landry, 30, started all 32 games he played for the Jaguars, making 291 tackles. Ross, 30, started nine of the first 12 games but had no interceptions.

The next key departure could be cornerback Derek Cox, whose agent was allowed to speak to other teams starting at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.

The Jaguars have needs in the secondary — Mike Harris and Kevin Rutland are the only cornerbacks under contract for this year.

“This is something we’re going to be very patient with,” Caldwell said. “We have the draft, and we don’t want to limit ourselves going into our first draft with this team and say, ‘We signed free agent X and then that means we’ll shy away from a player.’ Once you sign a free agent, that takes up a roster spot.

“That’s not to say we wouldn’t do something. But we’re going to make sure it’s the right move for the franchise moving forward.”

Between Saturday and Tuesday at 4 p.m., teams can still talk to their own free agents.

The Jaguars have talked to the representatives for Meester, Jones and Smith this week.

“They know where we’re at, and we know where we’re at,” Caldwell said.

Caldwell said re-signing Knighton is a “possibility.”

Cox’s agent, David Sullivan, said he has exchanged contract figures with the Jaguars but an agreement is unlikely to happen before Tuesday.

“Assuming that doesn’t happen, I think the Jaguars’ chances drop quite a bit from where they are currently,” Sullivan said in an email.

Among the teams expected to be interested in Cox is Washington, which would first need to create cap space by reworking several contracts or releasing veteran cornerback DeAngelo Hall.

The Jaguars had until Tuesday to offer tenders (first round — $2.879 million; second round — $2.023 million; low round — $1.323 million) to their six restricted free agents. But defensive end George Selvie, fullback Brock Bolen, receiver Jordan Shipley, linebacker Kyle Bosworth, center John Estes and tight end Zach Potter are now unrestricted. Caldwell said it’s possible the Jaguars could re-sign one of those players.